Proposal Changes to Marpole Membership

PROPOSED CHANGES TO MARPOLE MEMBERSHIP

–FAQ

Marpole membership is currently divided into two groups: full members who can participate in affairs related to running the club such as voting on club issues at general meetings and participating on the board; and associate members who may have curled at the club in multiple leagues and for many years but who are not included in our official voting membership under the society rules.

The Marpole Membership & Communication Committee is recommending, with approval from the board, that the membership structure be changed to include all curlers at the club. This proposal requires approval by the membership and will be put to vote at the upcoming SAGM on May 11, 2016.

What is changing?

Starting in the 2016-2017 season, all curlers in all leagues will be full voting members of the club. The quorum rules for the AGM will also be adjusted to ensure that, under the new membership, structure business can be carried out without issue.

What is staying the same?

Life membership will not change and the rights of membership to vote at general meetings and participate in governance will remain the same. Membership benefits, such as discounts on ice and facility rentals, will also remain unchanged. There will also be no new fees for existing members.

Why the change?

The purpose of this proposed change is to be more inclusive of all curlers at the club to increase our membership engagement. Marpole is a not-for-profit society and membership run. All curlers should feel they participate in maintaining our club. This change would also better position us to qualify for the new ‘member-funded’ class of the Society Act. Increasing membership will also benefit all curlers by giving a greater voice in our conversation with the City about the lease renewal.

How will curling fees be affected?

The committee and the board would like to emphasize that our primary objective in this proposal is increased membership and engagement, not income. However, we need to make sure that it is fair to those that have purchased memberships over the years so there are some minor adjustments to fees required.

Currently, all curlers (regardless of membership status) pay an annual facility fee and a Curl BC fee every year. For the current season, 2015-2016, this fee was $27. Under the new structure, the facility fee will be adjusted to include a capital improvement fee, a Curl BC membership fee, and a full voting club membership for all curlers in all leagues. The new facility fee for the upcoming season, 2016-2017, will be $60 which includes an annual membership of $30. Existing full members are exempt from the membership portion of the facility fee. As well, the one-time fee for membership will remain available for $150 (the same as the current structure) for anyone who would prefer to pay once rather than annually.

The net cost increase for existing full voting members is $0 and the increase for non-voting members will be $30. League fees will be frozen with no increase for the 2016-2017 to offset the minor increase in the facility fee for current non-members.

The full details of the proposal are attached. If you have questions or concerns please feel free to speak to any member of the Membership Committee or the club President, Susanne Whalley.

PROPOSAL FOR NEW MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE

Proposed Changes to Membership Structure: The membership & communication committee proposes to simplify membership rules and benefits with the objective of increasing membership engagement, volunteerism and also better position us to qualify for the new ‘member-funded’ class of the revised Society Act coming into effect November 28, 2016.

Proposal Summary:

It’s proposed that the membership structure be adjusted such that all curlers participating in club leagues and commercial/contract leagues become full voting members;

That the fee structure be adjusted such that membership is paid on an annual basis with the option of purchasing a membership through a one time fee; and

That all members, whether paying annually or by a one-time fee, share the same rights and benefits.

Proposal Details:

All curlers for all leagues are currently required to pay an annual Facility Fee. We propose that this fee be changed to include the cost of full membership for all curlers.

The facility fee under this proposal is $60 and would have the following structure:

A Capital Improvement Fee and a Curl BC membership fee.

This portion is $30/year.

An Annual Full Membershipto the club, including all rights and benefits.

This portion is $30/year.

Full Membership can be also paid with a $150 one-time fee.

Members who have paid this one-time fee are exempt from the annual membership fee and pay only the portion to cover of the facility fee that covers capital improvements and Curl BC membership (i.e., $30/year).

The rights and benefits for Annual Full Members and Full Members are the same.

The cost of the annual membership does not accumulate towards the one-time $150 fee. However, in the first year to simplify fee collection, curlers who pay the annual fee can use the $30 annual fee toward payment of the one-time fee of $150 if they choose to do so before the club closes for the holidays in December 2016.

This is meant to facilitate collection of the fees while giving curlers the opportunity to assess whether they would prefer to pay the one-time fee instead of the annual fee.

This is also meant for the first year of implementation only but could be considered for any ’new’ curlers joining the club in subsequent years at the manager’s discretion.

Life membershipswould remain unchanged.

Club or contract/commercial leagues that have half-year curling options can have a pro-rated annual fee. The one-time fee would remain $150.

Full Member rights are:

Voting privileges at AGM and SAGM;

And eligibility to serve on the Board of Directors.

Full Member benefits will be:

Membership discounts on rentals;

25% discount on sheet and/or full facility rentals;

25% discount when renting only the club lounge or Magnuson Room for events;

A discount for participation in more than one club run league;

Access to club lounge and bar service (non-members require sign-in as a guest to upstairs lounge).

In consideration of the increase in the number of voting members, the number of members required to be present or represented by proxy at AGM or SAGM meetings will be adjusted to ensure that a quorum can be met and business conducted. The attendance number for quorum will be set separately from this proposal but reviewed and approved at the next SAGM/AGM.

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